Truth: Did you know that community colleges were actually established to make the first two years of a four-year college more affordable? What’s more, going to a community college can be an excellent way to lay the general education groundwork before entering a four-year university.

Like with any major decision, choosing the college that’s right for you means you need to weigh both the positives and negatives of your decision. Discover some of the pros and cons of attending a community college. 

Teachers Are Focused On You Succeeding:

According to George R. Boggs president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges and former president of Palomar College (a two-year college in California), 

“Community college classes are taught by faculty who care about teaching and student learning, not by teaching assistants. The faculty members are fully committed to teaching and are not pulled away by research interests or the need to publish in order to get tenure. And community colleges are accredited by the same agencies that accredit major universities.” 

Affordability:

Most students select community colleges because they cost much less than a four-year university. It’s not uncommon for students who start at a four-year college to struggle paying off their student loans, what’s more, they often aren’t able to purchase things they need like a computer or even an apartment. Take a look at how you might be able to save thousands by attending a community college first.

Hands On Training, Not Just Lectures:

Students often comment that the professors are totally focused on helping you succeed in the career you wish to pursue.  Many students, like those at the Bronx Community College,  find themselves learning more by the hands-on approach community colleges offer. Since class sizes are smaller, the one–on-one teacher/student interaction allows students to fully understand a concept from more than just a textbook description. For instance, students often feel more comfortable asking questons because the classroom sizes are small and that means questions which would have often not been asked, get properly addressed.

Check out how this hands-on training approach is filling a need in a Florida community

Smaller Course Selection:

Two-year community colleges are a great place to gather your general education requirements before you head off to a four-year school. Many community colleges have limited class offerings, so if you don’t see classes in the area you wish to major, keep in mind a community college can still be an affordable way to get your general education courses out of the way . 

Transferring Credits Isn’t Always Easy:

Transferring credits from a two-year school to a four-year school can be done, regardless of what you might hear. If you decide that you want to complete your bachelor’s degree, you should research which classes will transfer to the school you plan to attend. Have a discussion with your community college adviser and a representative from the four-year institution to determine what classes will transfer. Learn more about transferring from the blog, Confessions of a Community College Dean. 

Still not sure which school is right for you? Begin your search at MyCollegeOptions.org

Have more questions about community colleges? We’d like to hear your comments!